A personal flamenco journey 8

               IV. Dance of the soul 

 

 

 

 

 

1. bailaora flies to South Korea

 

 

 

At Haman Art Center,

 

KyungNam, South Korea ,Dec. 2005

 

 

 

Hello, everyone. Buenas dias!

 

Welcome to ' Night of Flamenco'

 

 

As an exotic culture of Andalusian gypsies in Spain, tonight flamenco dance, song and guitar sound,is to pay an unexpected visit you, penetrating into your heart.

 

Dancers' sad facial ｅxpression! Their long arms shaping arch in elegant motions with sudden stops between the violent footworks. The long skirt's whirlwind-like circlings of the lower edges of their long skirts. And the fascinating guitar rhythm like silvery twinkling. They will leave a deep impression on your minds.

 

 

 

Flamenco song, dance and guitar playing - These requisites have been the way of life and symbol of the poetic spirit of Andalusian gypsies in Spain who have suffered from social alienation and ill-treatment .

 

 

 

You would be surprised that flamenco dance is analogous in origin and spirituality to Salpury dance, a Korean traditional dance. So it is, in that both dances come from  the sublimated sorrow and wrath which people of the lower classes with none to turn to have had deeply in their heart.

 

 

 

'Flamenco is the means through which man reaches God without the intervention of saints or angels', said a Spanish Poet. I expect that everyone of you will enjoy sympathy with this charming words.

 

 

 

Gohk Ma

 

A flamenco 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portland, Nov., 2005

 

Dearest Gohk:

 

 

 

A reporter named Ina from the Oregonian newspaper will be contacting you

by email about my visit and performances.

I hope the information I have given her is correct:

 

*You were inspired by my dancing when you visited the studio in Portland

 

*You sang Morning Dew for me and I agreed with the sentiment similar to flamenco

 

*We performed Morning Dew as Flamenco in 2001

 

*I have helped you expose more Korean people to Flamenco through our artistic collaboration, admiration and passion

 

*I will perform 2 shows and premiere Morning Dew as Flamenco dance!

 

 

 

I will see you in less than one week. 

 

Hard to believe it !  I am hoping to make you proud!

 

 

 

Abrazos,

 

Lau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portland, Aug. 2005

 

Hi Gohk!
 
Well, I would love to come there at your side on my own and teach
and perform to recorded music and perhaps collaborate with a Korean dancer

 

or yourself again.  That would be so exciting!
Let me know what you think!!!
Love,
lau. 

 

 

 

Portland, Sept., 2005

 

Dearest Gohk
Thinking of you! 

 

Still hope to see you in Korea.
maybe winter?
 

 

Abrazos,
 Lau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seoul, Sept., 2005

 

Dear Lau.

This time I never will lose the chance of your coming here.
Now it's okay for the idea of your dancing with recorded music.

 

But I think that till winter comes we have much time 

 

enough to find out the way for you to dance

 

with a guitarist accompanying you

 

I will not allow you to dance with the recorded music.

I am sure I can get it this time. I have had contacts
here with persons, most of whom gives me favorable clapping.

You can imagine that you are on the stage with a
flamenco team from Seoul ,

 

or with an Korean lady dancer of Salpury.

And  I got a telephone message from a dancing
institute owner that she wants to meet me in order to
share the idea of your short-term flamenco lessoning
in case of your coming

1, How long can you stay here?
2, Dont give up the possibility for a guitarist who
will accompany you.
3,Can you dance the Morning Dew if I sing it on the
stage?
4, and May I get any material or pictures regarding
your dancing?

With happiness
Gohk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seoul Sept. 2005

 

Hi, Lau

 

As a reply again.
Let's find out the way for you to come here within this winter.
First of all we had better share ideas for the thrifty expenditure

 

in relation with your coming here with a guitarist .

 My plan of visiting Spain was thought to be inevitable for my writing.

 

But now the idea of your coming here is growing more important.

 

I still don't want to lose either of the two. 

 

Thinking of you,
Gohk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seoul, Oct., 2005

 

Dear Lau

What month of the winter is better for you to come here?
The Haman Cultural Center side (I told them about our winter plan)

 

is anxious to know when you will come here.

 

They promised that re guarantee for you as a guest bailaora

 

at least USD 000.00 up for one stage is possible.

Jin said that here preferabe is the beginning of the December,

 

the last month  of 2005 or within the middle of January of the new year.

 

Me and Jin together are expected to play important roles for it. And Jin

 

is now under negotiation with a Seoul flamenco group expected to join us. 

 

Then how much can I pay to a guitarist accompanying you

 

is now to be my homework to solve.

 

But I am sure I can find a way for it any way. At any rate,

 

tomorrow or the day  after tomorrow I will meet again Mm,,

 

the owner of the dancing institute together with Jin

 

to discuss for our winter plan

Waiting for yr rply
Gohk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seoul, Oct., 2005
Dear Lau,

Re 1st: dvd and cd is ok. and them as not just gifts
but as something to pay for.( It is my principle). 

 

Re 2nd: Pls be comfortable and flexible for it.
You two can adjust with enjoyable minds your role

 

to any situation at the rehearsal here.

 

I never let you get burdensome and uncomfortable

 

regarding your role in this performance.

 

I really want you just to enjoy this trip . 

 

Re 3rd: You mean you bring books on flamenco with you?

 

Lorca or Pohren? I love the saying more than anything else.

In love of flamenco and you,
Gohk


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portland, Oct. 2005

 

Hello Gohk!
  
The best time for me to come would be after December 10 and before January  15.

 I may only be able to come for 10 days, but we can see what we can  do. 
However, I can arrange things for any winter date I think!  
I would like you to send me a letter describing what
 I will do there and  the significance of my visit ,

 

so I can approach the Korean community here for  
financing my airline ticket!
  
Exciting!!

 

 Lau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portland, Nov., south Korea

 

Dear Gohk:
 
Would you please tell me what the weather may be
like while we are  there?
 Thank you and see you soon!
You will be at the airport, correct?  Will it be
appropriate for me to  hug
you?
 
Abrazos,
Lau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Masan, Nov., south Korea

 

Dear Lau!

Re Weather, will advise 1 week before the
days. At the airport you will find me, silver grey hairs flupping in the wind.

 

No problem with any wear.
Gohk
---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portland, Dec., 2005

 

From: Ira,

 

Staff writer,

 

The Oregonian

 

 

 

Dear Gohk
 I'm a reporter with the Oregonian newspaper in Portland,

 

and I am interested in doing a story on Lau Miller and
the connection between Flamenco and Korean culture

 

that you worked together to forge.
 I would love to talk with you about your impressions
of Lau and her work, your connection to Flamenco.

 

I would be happy to call  you, when it is convenient for you

 

over the coming days. Please let me know the best way to reach you.

 

Or we could communicate via email, but I think it would probably

 

be much better to speak directly. 
All the best,
Ina
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seoul, Dec., 2005

 

Dear Ina
Happy to get this email from you.
It will be easier and more comfortable for us to have conversations

 

through email exchange because I am poor at oral ｅxpression!

 

I feel comfortable with writing and reading in English.

I think Lau would have no problems to give you
some information in relation with me.

 

She can tell you about me, how I came to love flamenco and

 

this time how Lau is to fly to Korea where Gohk now lives.
And If you need more, contact me directly over phone:

 

my mobile phone nr: (Korea) 016-000- 0000

Thank you so much,
Gohk